Free Time -Open-

[Nora Blackburn]

The sent of roses filled the air. The rapture of delight that made Nora lean over and smell the delectable flower again. The small girl loved flowers. The appearance and the smell over taking her as she looked wildly around the gardens. She never thought a park could have so many floral delicacies. Ranging from small daisies to large sun flowers. The colors rampaging around her with each turn. It seemed so much to take in leaving her to fall into the arms of a bench to rest and slowly to take in her surroundings and to gather herself. Saturdays were always pleasant and the only day she is able to have all to herself.

“Wow..” She could say no more as she smiled brightly sitting next to an azalea bush. Its blossoms greeting her with their fragrance. Looking up she could see the tree leaves moving about on their branches with the slight breeze as if they were waving hello to anyone that should happen to see. The plants all around her moving as if they were alive and she were in a fictional book.

Thinking of books she grabbed her messenger bag, something she happen to take everywhere she went, and opened it to expose the organized chaos. She debated as she looked into her bag. The choices where so many with her exploration of the public library. Various novels looking back at her as she contemplated. Feeling that she could not pick, she left it up to fate as she closed her eyes shuffled through the stack and plucked one out from the bottom.

Opening her eyes she examined the title and the authors name. She opened the book to the first page. A map printed on the inside. Leaving her imagination to begin the process of creating that fictional place in her mind. Letting mountains and trees soar, giving life in her mind’s eye to begin the tale that was right in front of her. It only started with the flip of a page. Words that would bring forth characters that she would become familiar with, to become friends with. To feel what they feel and to experience what they are doing on their own. It was exhilarating.

Leaving no time to waste she dove in. The story was new to her but it was one of those tales that you knew what was going to happen in the end. That happy ending that would leave you feeling relieved and the wanting of more. She never thought about the time that had passed by, the only thought in her head was her imagination wildly going through the scenes of the book. The maiden, which she had placed her own self image with, had gotten mixed up with a bad character, unknowingly of course. The maiden plunging into her own doom only to be saved by the hero. The man that was so devilishly handsome that would woe the maiden. Their tale of romance spinning in Nora’s head, the man’s appearance seemed awfully familiar.

Closing the book quickly, Nora blushed with what her mind had done. Her savior in the book was the one that had helped her out in the school. Sure she had a great conversation with him but what her mind did was inappropriate. She barely knew him and it was a fat chance anyone like him would go out with someone like her.

“Pish Posh, Get your mind right Blackburn.”

She said to herself as she looked around. It had seemed as if hours had passed by in minutes. Nora had not realized how in-depth she was with her book until she looked at her watch.

“O shoot..I better call.”

Reaching into her bag, she shuffled around with a few things before finding her cell phone. Dialing her dads number she waited as it rung. It barely rang twice before the voice of her younger brother answered.

“Hey Joey, can you put the phone on speaker so I can talk to dad?”

She could hear him fiddle with the phone before she could hear her fathers voice.

“Hey Nora is everything okay?”

Nora held the phone pressed on her ear it was hard to hear him since he was unable to hold the phone up to his mouth.

“Yeah, its fine. I went to the library earlier and I just got finished reading in the park. I still have to pick up your medication and a few non essentials. I figured I would call before I hit the store to make sure you didn’t need anything else.”

She could hear the silence as her father would think.

“I don’t believe so. Just make sure your back before 8. Call if your going to be late, I don’t feel comfortable with you walking when it gets dark.”

“Okay dad. No problem. See you when I get home.”

Hitting the end button she placed the phone back into her bag. Deciding that she better go the pharmacy first she looked around to figure out in which direction she would have to go. She still had a few hours to spare, maybe she would hit an old book store or maybe just find a café to get a nice cup of tea. Her choices where limited in not knowing where anything was.

[Santiago]

"What is there to do, I want to do something I'm soooo BORED."

Santiago felt a wave of irritation hit him as he sat in his room, staring at his television set he got up and walked over to his desk, opening a drawer he pulled out his zune and his wallet, he grabbed his keys from the top of his desk and left his apartment. As he jumped down his building's stoop his feet hit the pavement and he drew a blank as to what he could do, though school was out of session he could still go to campus and just hang out, or look for a sport to try out for. He didn't know what to do but stay home and watch TV or go on the computer, but the frustration was to much to bear, he wouldn't be able to control himself stuck inside all day.

Walking up the block he found himself on Lennox avenue, he paused for a moment and turned around to go inside the corner store, it was his favorite store that he frequented often. Walking inside he saw the cashier, waving to her she greeted him in the same way, walking to the back of the store he grabbed a large bottle of orange juice and walked back tot he front, paying for the orange juice he waved good-bye to the cashier and left the store. "What to do? what to do." Thinking to himself, Santiago put on his zune and played the previous song which was 'Let'em have it L' by Big L, blocking out the sound of the bustling streets he walked forward and dazing himself so he could pass the time.

After about an hour of walking he noticed he was near a park, stopping his zune and turning it off, he took it off and placed it in his pocket and walked into the vicinity. Looking around he noticed a few kids running around playing games, the parents watching over them vigilantly, watching them for a moment a smile came to his face, getting caught off guard he felt something hit his leg, looking down he saw a small child on his butt from the impact with Santiago's leg, meeting eyes with the child he knelt down and picked him up, smiling at him Santiago felt a slight relief as the child laughed and waved good-bye to him, waving to the child Santiago walked on-ward.

As he followed the beaten path he noticed all the flowers around him, taking in the beauty around him he felt a little more relieved the frustration draining away from him, he wanted to find something to do still, he need an activity to keep him busy or at least find a person to talk to, he walked over to a bush of roses and found a fully bloomed red rose, he moved closer to it and took a deep breath, he smelt it's enchanting fragrance and felt a drunk for a moment (What simplistic beauty.) he felt his irritation melt away as he plucked the rose from the bush and took off it's thorns, holding it in his hand he kept on. Continuing on his path he looked around seeing more flowers in different variations and colors, he was mesmerized by natures design. Reflecting on his surroundings he thought of his past love from New York, remembering how important she was to him and how much they cared for each other and how they would always be there for each other when things got drastic, he also remember how they would make love and hold each other afterward, he remembered the passion they shared and the love they had.

Santiago felt a bit of his irritation come back, but he shook himself from his thoughts and came back to reality, he had left her in New York and he couldn't do anything about it but move on. While he was walking he noticed benches on either side of the walk way, seeing a few people sitting, some reading some just resting, a couple of drunk bums passed-out on the benches. While he was walking he saw a young woman sitting on a bench speaking to someone on her cell phone, for a moment he thought about moving on, but he noticed how cute she was and felt it necessary to approach her and attempt to flirt with her, to see if he could get a date or her number or maybe just a good conversation.

Approaching her casually he saw she was still sitting he spoke in a nonchalant tone "Excuse me miss, do you mind if u join you by sitting here?" He didn't know if she was a student or a teacher or just a random person in the city, the girl was young so that showed she was most likely a student, (I wonder if she goes to Hircine or Paragon? guess I'll ask her if she decides to respond.)

[Nora Blackburn]

(ooc-sorry its short.)

Nora looked at the black haired guy in front of her posing the question. He easily would tower over her by a foot. She wasn't sure if she should be alarmed or just play it off as if this sort of thing happened to her all the time. His tone didn't seem threatening and the smile he had didn't seem to anything but friendly.

She would be polite. That was until he would give her something to run about. So smiling politely she moved her bag to the side and placed it on her lap leaving him some room on the bench.

"I don't mind but I was just about to leave."

She tucked a book marker into the book, not in the exact spot but an estimated guess since she had closed it rather abruptly before calling her father. Tucking it into her bag she look up again towards the guy waiting to see what he was going to do.

[Santiago]

Sitting down next to the slim girl, Santiago felt sort of overwhelming to her, her frame was small and slim, she looked like if he tried to touch her she would snap like a twig, she was a cute one though, with a baby face to go with her small body. He thought for a second about what he would do next, (Should I give her the flirt smile or just ease on her? Hmmm, whatever, i'll just play this like anything else I do, Aloof.) Hearing the girl say she was on her way out, he decided to desuade her, maybe she would stick around for a little while if he struck-up convo.

"Well miss, are you in a hurry? Or can you stick around. I was kind of looking for someone to chat with, but if you have to leave then I don't mind. Unless I can tag-along."

Sitting casually with his hands on each thigh, he stared at the girl for a moment, then let his eyes wonder so as not to alarm her and cause her to be distrubed by his gaze, he always made intense eye contact with the people he spoke with, it was one of his strengths when it came to conversation. Looking around at the flowers he remembered he had the rose in his left hand, moving his hand from his thigh, he put it on the bench with the rose under it (I'll wait to give this to her, unless she ditches me, which would suck.)

[Nora Blackburn]

“Well I umm..”

She paused looking around avoiding his stare before pushing the frames of her glassed up her nose.

“Well I believe I can spare a few minutes before having to toddle off. I mean. I have to do a few things before it starts to get dark and all.”

Her voice was soft and she was not used to the attention for sure and it clearly showed since she was as tense as a rod. She really didn’t have any experience in knowing what to do when it came to a guy approaching her. The only experience she had was the ones that would pick on her.

Fiddling with the messenger bag with her fingers, she twisted the straps before untwisted and repeating the action. It was either that or her hair and with it up in a ponytail she was limited with the strap.

“So what brings you to the park?”

The sound of her voice raised a little as if she was trying to force out confidence but needless to say it was useless without her showing it. In her mind she kept telling herself that she wasn’t good with strangers.

[Santiago]

"Well if you need company I know the city fairly well and I have a good sense of direction too."

Smiling at her again he thought it cute that her voice was so soft, watching her briefly as she played with her bag he heard her speak again, asking him what brought him about he noticed her volume increase a bit so decided to assume a more relaxed position for her sake, he turned his body a bit towards her and rested his right arm on the top beam of the bench, thinking for a moment he answered her saying....

"Well I had nothing to do what so ever, so I decided to go for a nice walk. The weather isn't so bad so I wanted to be a little active. How about yourself? What brings you here?"

Keeping eye contact with her, he attempted to soften his expression a bit so she wouldn't feel so tense. He looked around for a moment thinking of what he could talk to her about, (stop thinking so much man, you've done this before stop acting like such an amateur, she is cute though can I blame myself.) Looking back at her he saw she was a bit less tense and at the moment he remembered that he didn't even introduce himself, so he extended his hand to her and introduced himself to her.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself, my name is Santiago. Nice to meet you."

He felt like he was being to courteous, but that is how he was, a bit chivalrous, acting as a gentlemen most of the time, well normally when he would meet someone for the first time anyway. Looking at her he held his hand as he waited for her to shake it.

[Nora Blackburn]

Extending her small hand she lightly clasped his before speaking. Her eyes hitting his face before moving them to their hands.

“Nora, I suppose the park was the best refuge for a chapter or two of reading. Though I can’t help but admire the view of the flowers. We really never had a park like this back where I used to live.”

After they released hands, her own returned back to her bag. Her eyes no doubt wondering around to the flowers as if asking them to help her in letting her know what to do. But alas they were of no help and she was on her own in making herself not look like a fool.

This would have been much easier if she would have done more to socialize herself. The fact that her nose was more in the books than what it should have been, she might not appear as awkward and unsure of herself.

“Course it did have its array of wild flowers but not like the arrangements just in this park alone.”

She appeared down at her long sleeved shirt, smoothing along her abdomen to straiten of the wrinkles that crept in, on her shirt.

“I just moved here a little over two weeks ago. First time moving, so I'm afraid I lack on knowing where things are. This seemed to be between where I'm staying and school. So I guess I could say Im expanding my horizon.”

[Santiago]

Hearing her respond to him he nodded in agreement with her, the flowers were very nice to look at, something to clear the mind or something to just look at and reflect on it's beauty. At this moment he saw that in this girl, she was a diamond in the rough, but she seemed refined as well mentally, thought she seemed shy.

"I see, so you like to read. As do I, though I'm more of a writer myself. But books do call to me. I agree the flowers are beautiful, such a simplistic picture yet it can fill one with emotion."

Letting go of her hand his returned to their original position, one on his lap and the other at the top beam of the bench, looking at Nora as her eyes wandered to the flowers, Santiago had a thought (I can give her the rose and I know exactly what to say.) he waited a moment as she spoke again mentioning the flowers once again, he saw an opening for him to do what he wanted.

"I think these flowers are natures way of representing, each of us. Our independent beauty, the difference in colors and how much the buds have blossomed. I think this rose suits you very well."

Raising his hand with the rose in it he presented it to her, in the sincerest form possible, he wasn't trying to be cheesy with his approach, but he couldn't come off any other way. But in his mind his move had worked out perfectly and he was proud he could be so poetic with his words, (guess all that rhyming has developed my speech and word play, Not bad at all Santiago.) Smiling at Nora as she accepted the rose, he would wonder how she would take his gesture, (I hope she doesn't think I'm some kind of weirdo who trying to pull a fast one.)

Looking across to the other flowers in the bushes, he let out a small sigh of relief, his grabbing the rose wasn't in vain, though he thought he wouldn't have a need for it today. Looking back at Nora he heard her speak about her recently moving to the area and not knowing where anything was, fortunately for her, he knew his way around so it seemed he could help her out in getting around the city, he might be able to take her on a small tour of the area, maybe it'd turn out to be a nice time they would both enjoy.

"Well if I know my way around pretty well, maybe I can show you around and help you with getting to know this place. Diversifying your bonds is ideal in a new city."

He chuckled a bit at the line he had taken from the GZA on the 'Dave Chappelle Show,' his eyes would look beyond Nora for a moment scanning the scene beyond them, seeing nothing of interest his eyes returned to her, attempting to soften his expression a bit he waited for her response to his gesture and his offer, he hoped it would turn out for the better, but he could only hope.

[Nora Blackburn]

As he presented her with the gift she could feel her cheeks flush. This was rather unconventional to her and she was without a doubt not used to the gesture. He seemed to be a smooth talker and knew how to get a girl to blush. But Nora was unprepared, unschooled in knowing what to do. She could only do what she thought was right and that was to appreciate the gift and thank him for it.

“Thank you.”

Her words were still light as air as she looked at the rose. Which in itself was pretty but to think of all things to compare herself as one would be irrational. The thought came into her mind of A rose by any other name would it not still smell just as sweet.

Unsure of taking his offer of a tour lingered in her mind. The doubt of whether she could trust him or not was the deciding factor. She maybe young but she was well aware to keep in mind that not all people were nice. But if she would lure him to more public places, open areas where she could easily keep her options open, that it should be alright. She would have to put some trust in him but doesn’t everyone when meeting someone for the first time.

“I will accept your offer on one condition. I must be back here within an hour or so.”

Standing she swung her messenger bag to her side and stood waiting. She was unsure if it was the right thing to do but there was only one way to find out.

[Santiago]

Seeing Nora blush, Santiago grinned at her and kept his eyes on her for a moment, replying to her "Your Welcome." Before he went into his pocket for his cellphone, it vibrated for a moment signifying that he had received a text, bringing it to eye level he was that the text was from his friend Mark, it said something about a party on Saturday for his friends birthday, the message requested Santiago to bring liquor or weed to the party, along with girls and cup for the beer, he was ecstatic and couldn't wait for Saturday, he thought (maybe Nora would wanna come. I'd have to wait to ask her, she doesn't even know me.)

Replying to the text message telling his friend he would attend, his gaze returned to Nora, she seemed pensive at the moment, maybe deciding if she wanted to take Santiago up on his offer for the tour, hearing her accept his offer, he smiled and nodded as she gave him the condition of her agreement.

"No problem. If you need a ride home I could help you out, I have a car and know the roads pretty good. Anyway shall we."

He stood as she did and they walked off, away from the bench where they had just met a few minutes ago. Santiago thought (Well everything seems to be going smoothly, maybe this will turn out like I had planned after all, just gotta play everything right and not get ahead of myself.) Walking alongside Nora, he felt a bit nervous, though he knew what to do he would still be unnerved at times about the situation, but he played cool on the outside.

Looking at her their eyes met for a moment and it was silent, Santiago felt the tension in the moment, but he felt his confidence bubble as he locked eyes with her for a few seconds, before speaking to her.

"You said, you've just moved two weeks ago. May I ask from where you moved?"

[Nora Blackburn]

Walking with her hands resting on her bag, the rose safely held within her fingertips she walked along side him, but not too close, as they continued out of the park.

"We moved from Ohio, A small town, no ones ever really heard of. But it was close to factories and it was where my parents grew up. Things ended up happening and we had to pick up and move. It was hard living before hand but now, now we have to rely on family.”

Hearing her own words made her long for home. Sure it was small, nothing compared to this big city but it was all she knew, it was home. It was where you could go into a store and know the people. Where the person walking down the street would actually wave hello as you would pass by. Here didn’t seem so pleasant. Everyone was always in a rush to go here or there. Heavy sounds always seemed to fill the air drowning out the silence that Nora seemed to like so much. The atmosphere was so different than what she was used to. She questioned on how she would survive.

“Have you always lived here?”

She looked up when she stated the question only to look out and around after it was said. Her hand raising to her hair only to slide curled copper strands behind her ear. The mere height difference was a little intimidating to say the least for every time she would have to look at him she would have to tilt her head upwards. It made her feel as if she was a small child being escorted. Course her mothers side was full of short women. She couldn’t say she was proud of only being five foot. In fact she hated it sometimes. People would always presume she couldn’t do things on her own. That she couldn’t have a mind of her own for they thought she was still a child. Sure she still had some growing up to do but her life demanded her to be responsible and mature.

But it wasn’t Santiago’s fault that she was so short, but he did make her feel even shorter.